Fish Pic Friday - Heather Lynn

Heather Lynn@heatherlynnoh Digital creator Kentucky-Raised Cowgirl From Hell Retired From Reality TV.

Thursday Tanlines

From Newsweek, Hysterics at How Owner Catches Dachshund Working on Her Tan: ‘Just a Girl’

Shared by the canine's Georgia-based owner under @life.with.the.wee, the video shows the dachshund—described as being one of six in the account's bio—lying in the middle of a garden, flat on her back, legs loose, eyes closed, looking entirely at ease in direct sunlight. Overlaid text captures the mood succinctly: "Just a girl working on her tan."

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: It’s (Almost) That Time of Year Again up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

And I Bet She Was a Good Dog Too

Because cave men probably wouldn't have tolerated a bad one. Science Alert, Oldest Dog DNA Ever Found Reveals How Ancient Our Friendship Really Is

The discovery of the oldest ever dog DNA suggests they have been our best friends for nearly 16,000 years – 5,000 years earlier than had previously been thought, new research said Wednesday.

Despite being ubiquitous in the homes, backyards and hearts of people across the world, surprisingly little is known about where dogs come from. "It's just an interesting mystery," Swedish geneticist Pontus Skoglund of the UK's Francis Crick Institute told reporters.

Dogs are most likely a mix of two types of grey wolves, he said. However exactly when dogs diverged from wolves has been difficult to trace, partly because their ancient bones are tricky to tell apart. That is why scientists behind two new studies published in the journal Nature sequenced the genomes from archaeological remains, shedding light on the elusive origins of our furry friends.

 

The first study revealed that the world's oldest canine DNA was discovered in a piece of a skull in Pinarbasi in what is now Turkey.Artistic reconstruction of Pınarbaşı c. 15,800 years ago, based on evidence from archaeological excavations by University of Liverpool. (Kathryn Killackey)

The female puppy, which was perhaps "a few months old", probably looked like a small wolf when it lived roughly 15,800 years ago, according to study co-author Laurent Frantz of the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. Before Wednesday, the oldest-known dog DNA was from 10,900 years ago.

Also breaking that record was genetic evidence the team found in southwest England dating back 14,300 years, which illustrated how early dogs had spread across Europe.  Frantz said scientists could not prove exactly what role these dogs had among humans living during the last Ice Age. "But I think we can assume that they must have played a role because they would have been expensive to feed," he said.

The dogs probably lived on scraps from hunting mostly.

Perhaps the dogs were used for hunting or protection, he speculated. Even if these dogs were not treated the same as pets are today, there was likely still a strong bond, he said, adding that "kids will still have played with puppies".

Another sign of a close relationship was that puppies had been found buried above human graves in Pinarbasi.

 he Wombat has Rule Five Monday: Blue Monday up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Trump Steps in the Potomac Shit

Leslie Eastman at LI notices Potomac Interceptor Rupture Poised to Become the Largest Sewage Spill in U.S. History "This man-caused disaster not merely a technical breakdown but a profound public health, environmental, and governance crisis affecting downstream communities." Hat Hair's Beege Welborn says 'P' Is for 'Perfume' as in 'River' - It's Also for 'Potomac'. At News Wax, Trump, Md. Gov. Moore Battle Over Potomac Sewage Spill Response. I say, get every federal bureaucrat in DC out there with a shovel.

From Fox, Collins boosts Republican voter ID effort, but won’t scrap filibuster, "Mike Lee-led campaign gains crucial vote but faces 60-vote Senate filibuster challenge." At RCP, Sen. Dave McCormick on SAVE Act: If An 80-20 Issue Can't Get 60 Votes, Something Is Amiss In The Senate, but then, we knew that. Dmitri Bolt at TownHall, CNN Confronts Chuck Schumer on Voter ID. Capt. Ed at Hat Hair hears Fetterman: What's Wrong With Requiring ID to Vote? Secretary Kristi Noem @Sec_Noem, "It must be exhausting to regularly manufacture outrage even over the most commonsense statements. Yes, we must build election infrastructure that makes it easy and secure for eligible American citizens to vote—while preventing non-citizens, including illegal aliens, from casting ballots. The choice of who to vote for is obviously up to the voters themselves. So here's the real question for @jaketapper @jonkarl and anyone else clutching pearls over this: Do you actually support allowing people who are in this country illegally to vote in our elections?" Support? They're counting on it.

Sundance at CTH explores the relationship between Steve Bannon and Jeffrey Epstein. John LeFevre @JohnLeFevre, "Nothing from NBC News on Obama's lawyer or Reid Hoffman - who donated $100 million to Democrats, bankrolled the Kavanaugh smear campaign, and funded the E. Jean Carroll hoax against Trump. Media silence when it doesn't fit the narrative." Quote NBC News @NBCNews, "At least half a dozen top Trump administration officials appear in the Jeffrey Epstein files.  Batya Ungar-Sargon @bungarsargon, ""Ironically, in denouncing how 'wealthy powerful men' are protected in a two-tiered legal system, Khanna pulled the ultimate powerplay — defaming four individuals with little concern of accountability. Ironically, Khanna succeeded in showing the ultimate example of the impunity enjoyed by 'wealthy, powerful men.'" Quote Jonathan Turley @JonathanTurley, "I have spoken with members who were part of the conference on the petition to force the release of these documents. Massie and Khanna opposed efforts to amend the petition to allow for greater resources to review the millions of documents... https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/15/ro-" From Campus Reform, Jeffrey Epstein's obsession with human bodies led him to fund the genetics research of two current Harvard profs. "Epstein was obsessed with blue eyes and worked with scientific contacts to prove his hypothesis that blue eyes were a signifier of high intelligence while he was funding and visiting Harvard's Program for Evolutionary Dynamics." At Fox, Israeli intelligence sources reject claims Jeffrey Epstein was Mossad operative following document releases "Israeli prime minister escalates political feud following renewed scrutiny of Epstein's dealing with ex-Israeli leader Ehud Barak." But then, they would if it were true, too.

Dave Strom at Hat Hair claims You Won't Believe The New York Times' Take on Rubio's Munich Speech. "The New York Times' reaction to the speech mirrored that of AOC: Western values suck, and Europe is no longer Western because its population is being replaced by third worlders. AOC said it outright, giving an explicitly Marxist race and class-based analysis, while the Times sanded the sharp corners down a bit." You'd be surprised by what I might believe. Hat Hair's Duane Patterson looks at Marco's Moment, Morons, and Mendacity in Munich. Sarah Anderson at TownHall watches Rubio’s European Tour Heats Up — WaPo and the Cuban Revolution Take a Beating. Sundance hosts Secretary Marco Rubio's Joint Press Conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and reports President Trump Announces Board of Peace Meeting February 19th at the Donald J Trump Institute of Peace. 

PJM's Cathy Salgado hears the  Trump Admin tout $2,400 Savings From Ending Start-Stop Car Feature. We don't have it, but that's got to be annoying. We have a hybrid, and it alway shuts off, unless it need charge. But at least the electric side accelerates right off. News Wax, Trump Touts Dip in Mortgage Rates Vs. Biden. ""Joe Biden’s inflation crisis crushed the dream of homeownership for millions of Americans — but President Trump is bringing it back," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News." It's a bit much to claim credit for, but if the Democrats are going to wield the "affordability" club, it's fair.

From NYPo, Trump threatens kidnappers with death penalty if Nancy Guthrie isn’t returned alive in call with The Post, Democrats immediately call for cashless bail for the offenders /sarc.

Dave Strom looks at the Democrats Auditioning for Nomination in Munich. At Twitchy, AOC Mocks Marco Rubio for Saying Cowboys Come From Spain (Ask African Slaves). End Wokeness @EndWokeness, "AOC mocks Rubio: "My favorite part is he said cowboys are rooted in Spain. Uhhh, speak to Mexicans & African slaves!" Spain introduced horses to Mexico." Capt. Ed at Hat Hair calls it Too Dumb to Check: Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be AOCs. Joe Chalfant at TownHall, Did AOC's Word Salad Just End Her Presidential Ambitions? Hardly, it's par for Democrats who have to constantly talk around truth and logic. Brad Slager at RedState, The Ocasio-Cortez Disaster in Munich Gives a 2028 Election Primer As Bloomberg News Cleans Up Her Mess. Driscoll at Insty, WAS IT OVER WHEN THE VENEZUELANS BOMBED PEARL HARBOR? Western Lensman @WesternLensman, "AOC: The US shouldn't engage in actions like the one against Maduro just because Venezuela is “below the equator." Venezuela is not below the equator. Got a round of applause anyway." A Larry video at Hat Hair, AOC, Hillary Clinton Globally Shamed As Rubio Stuns World Elites. Driscoll again with DAAAMN: Watch Hillary’s Face as Czech Deputy PM Macinka Shuts Her Down in Heated Back and Forth on Gender. Fox News @FoxNews, "REALITY CZECH: Hillary Clinton clashes with Czech Deputy PM Petr Macinka after he says President Trump reacted to policies that went "too far." MACINKA: "We saw the woke revolution. I don't agree with the gender revolution, the climate alarmism..." CLINTON: "Which gender? Women having their rights?" . . ." Amy Curtis noticed Hillary Clinton Lied About Deportations Under Her Husband and Obama. Well, her mouth was moving. 

Congressman Randy Fine @RepFine, "Piers, what is disgusting is a major NYC Muslim leader saying we must give up our dogs because "NYC is coming to Islam" We will not be shamed into being conquered like the Europeans. I choose my dog. I know my first appearance on your show didn't go well for you, but if you want to try again, I am happy to administer another beating." Jake Tapper @jaketapper, "Disgusting bigotry." Quote Congressman Randy Fine @RepFine "If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one." Amy Curtis @RantyAmyCurtis, "So for the midterms, @TheDemocrats have decided to take the side of banning dogs and calling the critics who oppose banning dogs “racist.” Keep up the good work." and Totally weird how not one Leftist has said, “No, we won’t let Muslims ban your dogs.” I’m sure it’s just a coincidence. RBe @RBPundit, "Apparently all the political commentators just flat out missed that some Muslim activist who works for the new NYC mayor said dogs should be banned indoors in New York." Wilfred Reilly @wil_da_beast630, "This "dogs" tweet thing is a classic example of a totally fake, made up scandal. A Muslim troll - an adult with a powerful position - tweeted that New Yorkers should get rid of all (indoor) dogs to appease Muslim immigrants, because dogs are filthy in Islam and Muslim incomers do not want to see them. In direct response, quoting his opponent, another powerful adult said that - if forced to make this binary choice by Muslims - he would prefer dogs to Muslim incomers. This is about the 90% US position, btw. Every S...S...SHOCKED response to part two is literally just someone intentionally ignoring the 1st 1/2-2/3 of the exchange so they can do the "You Monster!" bit. It really is tiring."

At Am Great, Ed Ring calls Mamdani and Newsom The Democratic Party’s Fraternal Twins. "Mamdani and Newsom sell rival myths, but their shared model—big government fused with big corporate power—centralizes control, inflates costs, and leaves ordinary Americans paying the price." At PM, Tenants in NYC public housing won't be allowed to complain about city landlord at Mamdani's 'rental ripoff' hearings. "If these hearings were truly about holding bad landlords accountable, the over 500,000 residents in NYCHA would be able to meaningfully participate." Government cheese. 

Jonathan Turley sees California Democrats Trigger a Reverse Gold Rush with a Wealth Tax: Eat the Rich. Hat Hair's John Sexton, Billionaires Make Plans to Avoid the California Wealth Tax. David Marcus @BlueBoxDave, "There’s a weird poeticism to the radical American left being funded by divorce settlements." Quote Forbes @Forbes, "MacKenzie Scott’s $26 billion giving sprint in seven years, including a record $7.2 billion last year, makes her the third-biggest philanthropist of all-time. She gave more in 2025 than Musk, Page, Ellison and her ex-husband Bezos have in their lifetimes combined." Beege Welborn, How Green Is My Cult: CA Now Importing US Gas From *check notes* 4000 Miles Away. Driscoll sees BLUE STATES ARE MOVING LEGISLATION FORWARD TO RESTRICT HOW MUCH YOU CAN DRIVE: "The “15 Minute City” concept is gaining traction on the left, especially in Great Britain, where the Labour Party and leftist cities are seeking to impose harsh restrictions on vehicle use. Here in the U.S., blue states are pivoting toward mileage caps, which would establish maximum “vehicle miles traveled” (“VMT”) allowed for an entire state, with regulators then creating “incentives” to reduce individual driving so as to achieve the VMT objective. From News Nation: “Massachusetts bill aims to reduce driving to meet climate goals” . . ." From the College Fix, EXPOSED: Taxpayers paying for Democrat activists’ grad school tuition. Ben Smith at RedState, Democratic Auditor Takes Own Party to Court After $12M Fraud and 72% Vote for Audit. 

Stacy McCain has a warning, Warning: Stay Away From St. Louis, "“Well, Stacy, how dangerous is St. Louis?” you ask. IT’S WORSE THAN BALTIMORE!" I demand a recount. At Insty, CRIME: Follow the science! Arthur MacWaters @ArthurMacwaters, "Criminality is not random Only 0.2% of people ever commit murder, yet 67% of **all murders**are committed by people with prior arrests People inclined to commit crime will continue to, unless stopped. When those people are stopped, the crime stops." Quote Hunter Ash @ArtemisConsort, "This is a key point: the idea that imprisoning criminals won’t reduce crime tacitly assumes that there’s some kind of crime quota, and other people will start assaulting strangers if we lock up the people currently doing it. x.com/usinglyft/stat…"

At Hat Hair, Capt. Ed, Homan: You Better Believe We'll 'Flood the Zone' in 'Sanctuaries' Again, Dave Strom fears The Ground Troops of the Revolution Are Being Trained Before Our Eyes and In Minneapolis It's the Taxpayers Who Pick Up the Tab for Anti-ICE Activism and John Sexton reports a Public School Teacher Killed by Illegal Immigrant Fleeing ICE. From CIS, DOJ Reveals that Biden Granted ‘Quiet Amnesty’ to Nearly a Million Aliens. "Cases that have been ‘temporarily paused’ for more than three decades, and other denials of justice." The Redoubtable Julie Kelly (at substack) explores how a Deadly Crash Exposes Danger of So-Called 'Chameleon Carriers'. "Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and some federal lawmakers are looking into how trucking companies avoid oversight and accountability through shadow operations in the trucking industry."

The Chronic has No Pity for the ‘Washington Post.’ Ace, "The Media Whined That the Washington Post Cancelled Its World-Beating Sports Section. The Media, You Will Not Be Surprised to Learn, Lied." By "sports," they meant what they mean in every case: DEI propaganda and gay communism bullshit. They do this with every single entertainment men like. They fill men's entertainment with nonstop pro-gay, pro-feminism, pro-DEI propaganda. So that's what was going on with the Washington Post's "sports" desk before they cancelled it. Free Beacon's Andrew Stiles: . . ." Dave Strom notes They Don't Even Try to Distinguish Fact From Fiction Anymore. The article as about the Slantic, but it's a general problem.

Insty calls this SAVAGE. AND FAIR. Rolling Stone @RollingStone, "The MAGA right says Charlie Kirk is a martyr for freedom of expression, but still want people to lose their jobs for criticizing his rhetoric. DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican, "You, of all outlets, need to SHUT UP. You were the first outlet to dox me. You ran a deranged piece painting me as some CFPB mastermind only because you couldn’t dig up dirt. You tried to cancel me. You don’t get to whine about cancel culture. Here’s the rule: if you don’t want to get fired, don’t cheer the deaths of your neighbors, family, or fellow Americans. You and I are not the same. We see you. You are hypocrites. You are evil. Go crawl away in shame."

PJM's Mike Cantrell hears an Aussie Influencer Says Pop Star’s Mansion Joke Got Him Booted From the U.S. “Billie Eilish got me deported from the US—I think her legal team contacted DHS,” Drew Pavlou wrote in a post published Sunday on X. “I spent 30 hours at LAX immigration trying to explain that my s---posts were just a joke and that I didn’t actually plan to personally move into her mansion.” Dmitri Bolt, A Man Joked About Moving Into Billie Eilish's Mansion. Her Response Is Breaking Irony Detectors. Man, she's really got that surly teen look down pat, for a 24 year old woman.

Matt Vespa thinks you should Look at What the Rhode Island Hockey Rink Shooter Posted on X Before the Attack. Steve Lookner @lookner "This is the X account of the Pawtucket high school hockey game shooter, according to the New York Post. Police said the shooter's name was Robert Dorgan and he/she went by the name Roberta Esposito. The shooter shot family members and a family friend, then himself/herself. (h/t @DoctorTurtleboy)" At Twitchy, DEVELOPING: Robert Dorgan a.k.a. ‘Roberta Esposito’ Shoots Six at a Youth Hockey Game in Rhode Island. Robby Starbuck @robbystarbuck, "The Atlantic, a far left publication, has come out today with a piece about how indefensible it is to transition kids. Massive sea change. We’ve won the PR war to end this absurd abuse."

James Bacon, at Bacon's Rebellion on How to Make Sure Virginia Universities Are Governed by Unaccountable, Leftist Oligarchies Forever, elect Spamberger. 

And oh, so much more at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 02.16.26! The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Mustang Gal and FMJRA 2.0: Still Winning up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Fish Pic Friday - The Reef Addicts

A cute Australian Throuple, Reef Addicts@reef.addicts, Joshua Matulis, Larissa Rogers and Tyro the Adventure dog. Fishing • Spearfishing • 4x4 📍 Exploring the reef & beyond  

Linked at The Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama and links. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: The Long View up on time and under budget at The Other McCain.

No, Just No

Dan Flynn at Am Spec warns The People Who Came for Your Plastic Bag and Straw Now Want Your Dog

From the people who turned your Mustang into a Prius and made it so your dishwasher does not actually wash dishes comes a new villain, not quite straight from central casting, in the imaginary war on the planet: dogs.

“We are all too aware of the negative effects of cats,” Australian academics Bill Bateman and Lauren Gilson write at The Conversation, “both owned and feral, on wildlife…. Our pet dogs seem to get a free pass.”

With all the charm of Almira Gulch and the subtlety of Michael Vick, Bateman and Gilson argue that man’s best friend really sits, and rolls over, as mankind’s great enemy.

The authors argue, “Our beloved pet dogs have a far greater, more insidious and more concerning effect on wildlife and the environment than we would like to be the case.”

How so?

“The medications we use to rid our pet dogs of fleas or ticks can last weeks on fur, and wash off when they plunge into a creek or river,” they write. “But some of these medications have ingredients highly toxic to aquatic invertebrates, meaning a quick dip can be devastating.”

They point out, “Dogs largely eat meat, meaning millions of cows and chickens are raised just to feed our pets.”

“Researchers have found when birds such as blue tits and great tits collect brushed-out dog fur to line their nests,” they write, “it can lead to fewer eggs hatching and more dead hatchlings.” (And while the first species possibly enjoys a niche audience somewhere on the internet, one can easily see the formation of a mass-movement to save the second, already quite popular, species).

Dogs chase wildlife, and this “can exhaust tired migratory birds, forcing them to use more energy,” and deer “run sooner and farther if they see a human with a leashed dog than a human alone.”

And if this were not enough to set up an appointment to euthanize your golden retriever, “Then there’s the poo.”

It all seems a stretch, and the scholarly article linked to buttress the “highly toxic” for aquatic invertebrates claim regarding flea and tick medications instead points to “a potential risk” for such creatures. And the bird eggs-insecticide study cited by Bateman and Gilson, which found traces of insecticides in all 103 of the nests examined, notes that “it is not possible to assess whether we would expect the concentrations of insecticides found in nests in our study to harm eggs or chicks.”

The war on dogs seems unlikely to prevail — at least in the United States (China and Vietnam seem possibly more receptive to this campaign).

I miss Skye, both I and II. 

The Wombat has Rule Five Sunday: Bunny Season! awaiting your attention at The Other McCain.

Rule 5 Saturday - Gabi Champ

This week it's Gabi Champ. From TMZ, Gabi Champ Heats Up Vegas With Her Patriotic Hot Shots

She initially began creating content on Instagram in the year 2018. She eventually posted her first Instagram photo on December 30, 2018.

She lives with her pet dog in the Las Vegas, Nevada area.

Linked at The Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Moving Indoors and FMJRA 2.0: One Last Series up on time and under budget. Linked at the Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama. 

Dogs, Man's Best Friend, but Not Neanderthal's

Scott Pinsker at PJM offers an interesting hypothesis, Is Man’s Best Friend the ‘Superweapon’ That Helped Humans Outcompete the Neanderthals?

Nowadays, modern humans are the only game in town. There are still chimpanzees and bonobos, but all the other walking-upright primates have gone extinct. The last Neanderthal vanished about 40,000 years ago; the last Denisovan 50,000 years ago. These are just educated guesses, however. There’s some evidence that smaller, isolated pockets of Neanderthals survived until 25,000 years ago, and the Denisovans might’ve persevered in New Guinea until just 15,000 years ago — and are still remembered in folklore and oral traditions. We just don’t have enough physical evidence to prove it.

A third group, the Homo floresiensis, lasted in Indonesia until 50,000 years ago, and might’ve been a surviving group of an even older archaic species, the Homo erectus.

But why did they all go extinct? These species were extraordinarily successful for a very long time, yet they all went extinct around the same general timeframe. What happened?

Nobody knows.

 

All we know for certain is that we coexisted and mated. For about 2,600 to 5,400 years in Europe, Neanderthals and Humans interacted, intermingled and interbred. Even today, virtually all humans outside of sub-Saharan Africa have about 2% Neanderthal DNA. Among Melanesians (Papua New Guinea and Bougainville Islands), about 5% of their DNA is from Denisovans. Depending on how you look at it, perhaps the Neanderthals and Denisovans never went extinct at all; they’re still here, living within this strange, hybrid species known colloquially as a “modern human.”

We still know very little about the Denisovans and the Homo floresiensis. About the former, we don’t have any complete skeletons; just a few bone and teeth fragments that we can DNA test. The culture and lifestyle of both remain a near-total mystery. We only discovered Homo floresiensis fossils in 2003; Denisovans in 2010.

But we’ve already learned a great deal about the Neanderthals. We know they were stronger and more powerful than humans. They might’ve been smarter, too: Their brains are larger. Now, bigger brains don’t always correlate to higher intelligence, so it’s not a certainty that they could out-think and out-plan us. It does indicate that they required more caloric content to survive, since the brain is a very expensive organ to run. According to some estimates, Neanderthals needed 350 extra calories each day to feed their larger brains — not an insurmountable total, but enough to stress an ecosystem during times of famine. Paradoxically, their bigger brains could’ve been their downfall.

 

We also know Neanderthals were capable of art and music. Their caves are filled with gorgeous paintings, and we’ve discovered the remains of a bone that was converted into a flute. We’ve also uncovered the bones of Neanderthal men and women who had survived debilitating injuries during their youth and still made it to middle age, which indicates they were “humane” enough to care for the wounded. Numerous times, bodies have been buried with rare flowers, shells, and eagle feathers, which seems to demonstrate a sense of spirituality.

As far as we can tell, there’s no genetic reason why Neanderthals couldn’t prosper and be as successful as humans. They had the brains, the tools, and most of the same advantages we had.

But they weren’t successful: They’re all gone.

Weirdly, for hundreds of thousands of years, the Neanderthal lifestyle changed very little. Neanderthals lived in Europe for over 350,000 years, but when archeologists analyze settlements that are 200,000 years apart, they’re virtually identical. It was as if their culture disallowed progress and growth. In fact, it wasn’t until modern humans began arriving in Europe between 54,000 to 43,000 years ago that Neanderthal settlements began finally showing evidence of cultural improvements. We still don’t know why this is.

But for those invading humans to successfully supplant the entire Neanderthal population — exiling them from their homes, conquering their land, stealing their resources, and driving them to extinction — they needed some kind of advantage. A superweapon.

 

After all, the Neanderthals were bigger and stronger. They might’ve been smarter. They had homefield advantage and knew the terrain like the back of their hand: All the animals to hunt, all the best fishing spots, all the ways to survive winter. They evolved specifically for this environment; it was their home for 350,000 years!

And then, a few thousand years later, they all vanished from the earth. Whoosh!

One theory of what might’ve given humans the upper-hand is a helpful paw: The faithful dog.

We don’t know when dogs were first domesticated. Some experts believe it was only 15,000 years ago, but others put the timeline at 40,000 years ago, or even longer. The two oldest known dog skeletons were found in a Belgium cave and in the Altai Mountains of Siberia, dating back 33,000 years ago.

 

Either way, the bond between humans and wolves-turned-dogs predates agriculture and the invention of the wheel. It’s one of the oddest partnerships in Mother Nature: A symbiotic connection between two very different species — but one that allows both man and dog to overcome life-and-death adversity.

In the hands of a human, a domesticated dog would be tantamount to a superweapon — a technological breakthrough that equipped modern humans with night vision, an alarm system, a hunting partner, a warm body on a cold night, and even provided self-defense. Humans with spears fighting against Neanderthals with spears might be a close match, but when dogs are added to the mix, it’s a strategic mismatch. 

A human settlement protected by guard dogs would be almost impossible for Neanderthal invaders to sneak-attack. But even if both populations were perfectly peaceful — which seems unlikely, knowing what we do about our history — a human hunting with a dog will outcompete a Neanderthal without one. And if Neanderthal brains also required more calories, this imbalance could have serious consequences.

It's an interesting theory, and I like it, but really, the only evidence for it is a convenient time line. A lot of changes happened during that time period.  

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Moving Indoors up on time and under budget.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Kamunism Explained

From the Center Square, NC, Families spending 22% more on household goods than in 2021, Hat Hair's Jazz Shaw hears Harris admit Yes, Things Still Cost Too Much, so she'll just tell business to sell them at a loss.  NYPo, Terrence K. Williams@w_terrence, "Kamala Harris is not happy about this article.  She believes it’s racist to call her this and to think a black woman doesn’t know how to fix the economy." Twitchy, In a HILARIOUS Political Ad, Trump Reminds Americans Exactly How Broke They Really Are. At Liberty UnYielding, Kamala Harris backs price controls that would lead to food shortages rather than fixing the inflation she helped cause

How is Kamala so bad at this? pic.twitter.com/NdukZqPJ8E

— Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) August 16, 2024

The memes know

Roger Kimball at Am Great, Harris’s Kamunist Agenda Faces Harsh Reality, "The socialists funneling ideas to Harris have put together an economic plan redolent of Venezuela or, indeed, the Soviet Union." Hat Hair restates Politico headline. Don't Work Like That: Dems Want to Wait Until AFTER Kamala Wins to Set Policy Proposals. Likewise from AP, Gaslight Alert: Consumer Sentiment Rises Thanx to Kamala Enthusiasm. From Twitchy, Brian Stelter Stomps on a Ratio Rake in Rush to Defend Kamala Harris From Jeanine Pirro. The Free Bacon reports that Avoiding Interviews, Harris Sits Down With Running Mate To Talk ‘Tacos’. Fox, Harris and Walz’s bizarre skit exposes double standard on race. "Why is it OK to stereotype 'white guys,' but no other group?" At OTP, a Majority Of Voters Know Media Is Shilling For Harris. 

At Althouse, "Kamala can’t be thrilled that Obama, Pelosi and Schumer hesitated to endorse her because they wanted more moderate rivals to compete in an open mini-primary...." ""Biden still thinks he could have taken Trump, so how could he reconcile being shoved off the sled?"

Capt. Ed at Hat Hair, Florida Sheriff: 'We Have a Non-Existent Immigration System' Under Biden-Harris. Byron York at WaEx, has  A story everyone should know: Harris, Biden, and Gianfranco Torres-Navarro. From Da Caller, Blue County Released Illegal Migrant Rapist After Ignoring ICE Detainer, Charles County, MD, a long hop, skip and jump from here. 

Anxious anxiously claims "TimTok:" Walz brings "big dad energy" to TikTok. Gag me with a spoon. From NYPo, Tim Walz’s ‘cozy’ relationship with Communist China probed: ‘Americans should be deeply concerned’. At WaEx, Tim Walz can’t tell the truth about his own life. At NRO, Top Ten Reasons Tim Walz Stinks, According to a Minnesotan. 

If you're in need of memes, Steve Hayward at Power Line has The Week in Pictures: Return of the King (of Twitter).

Steve Richards at JTN reports Hunter Biden’s ex-partner cooperating in bizarre murder-for-hire prosecution, court records show, "Devon Archer, who worked with Hunter Biden on several ventures stretching back to 2008, argued that his sentencing on a fraud conviction should be delayed because of his full cooperation with ongoing congressional and Justice Department investigations."

NewsMax warns NY Times/Siena College Poll: Harris, Trump Tied in Sun Belt. Twitchy, In a HILARIOUS Political Ad, Trump Reminds Americans Exactly How Broke They Really Are. Charlotte Hazzard at JTN, Milwaukee Police Association throws endorsement behind Trump and Vance. "The association said that there are many policing challenges in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, such as low bail for dangerous criminals and a staffing crisis." Hat Hair, Interesting: Tulsi Agrees to Help Trump Debate Prep. OTP, Trump Calls In Harris Nemesis Tulsi Gabbard For Debate Prep. Tulsi basically killed Kamala's 2020 run with a few sentences in a debate. Henry Rogers at Da Caller seems concerned that Wiles, LaCivita Are Still Calling Shots At Trump Campaign, Sources Say. At Victory Girls, George Will Thinks Trump’s Act May Be Getting Stale, but then, he was never really a fan. At Hat Hair, Beege Welborn issues a Bias Alert: How Trump’s Intimidation Tactics Have Reshaped the Republican Party over an article from Reuters.

From Twitchy, Unused to Dogs That Don't Bite Secret Service Members, Leftists Attack JD Vance Over How He Walks His Pup. Red State's 'Bonchie' sees The Press Go After JD Vance's Mamaw and Papaw in Absolutely Disgusting Political Hit. Althouse cites Douhat, "On one side, there’s the enlightened maleness embodied by Harris’s vice-presidential pick and her husband, Doug Emhoff." ""These are the good progressive dads... the 'nice men of the left' who do guy things like coach football but also manifest liberal and feminist virtues.... Then there is the other model, the dark side of the Y chromosome: the toxic masculinity of Donald Trump, the anti-cat-lady conservatism of JD Vance.... But has liberalism perfected a model of modern masculinity while conservative culture slouches somewhere far behind? I’m skeptical...." but probably not skeptical enough.

Da Caller, DNC Attendees Will Have Opportunities For Free Vasectomies, Abortions, and a license to loot. Leah Barkoukis at TownHall, sees Businesses Aren't Take Any Chances During the DNC. Here's What Downtown Chicago Looks Like. Boarding up windows in advance. Smart! Center Square Illinois ‘Democrats deliver’ message expected at DNC as GOP says reality to creep back in.

Jazz Shaw is sad that Cornel West is Tossed Off Ballot in Michigan. Democrats practicing democracy as usual. 

First of all, let's find out what Cornel West did which was so terrible that he should be pulled from the ballot. Did he shoot a man in Reno, just to watch him die? No, it was nothing quite that dramatic. USA Today describes it as "a technical violation," but even that seems a bit generous. The Michigan elections director sent a letter to West's campaign saying that his affidavits of identity submitted with his ballot application were "not properly notarized." West's affidavit was notarized in Colorado and needed to meet all of that state's requirements to be valid in Michigan as well. There were apparently a couple of boxes left blank and the notary public stamp for the affidavit was attached on a separate piece of paper rather than on the document itself. Yes, that was it. That was the entirety of the complaint.

OTP,  Georgia Considers Law To Match Number Of Voters With Ballots, what a novel concept! From Gatestone, A Borderline Election, "It is as if Washington seeks to consciously create a demographic sea change as to who will now be able to go to the polls in 2024." Ace likes Ben Weingarten: Illegals Will Be Voting This Election and Our Government Is Enabling Their Crimes "The government claims that illegals won't vote because the penalties are severe enough to deter fraudulent voting. But then it never prosecutes fraudulent voting -- which means there is no deterrence to it. The other way federal and state governments encourage and facilitate illegal voting is by making it difficult or even impossible to check voter registration lists for noncitizens illegally signed up to vote. Again, they claim that they have "systems in place" to detect illegal voting... but then do everything possible to sabotage those "systems.""

PJM's Kevin Downey How to Make an Assassination Attempt Disappear With 1 Simple Trick. Mary Chastain at LI,  ‘Big Honor’: Corey Comperatore’s Widow Proud Trump Displayed His Gear at RNC. "Corey’s daughter message to the security: “I just want them to know that I really think my dad’s blood is on their hands, and I hope they wake up every day thinking about what they took from our family.”" Matt Vespa, This Comedian Has Done the Impossible Regarding the Trump Assassination Attempt

Hilarious bit on Trump assassination attempt.

Make comedy great again. pic.twitter.com/tHchoGZy0F

— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) August 16, 2024

Bobby Anne Flower Cox explains How to Defeat the Censorship Industrial Complex "Good old-fashioned conversations!"

From Campus Reform, Pro-Palestine student group in Massachusetts uses readings from Lenin, Stalin, and Palestinian terrorist hijacker in 'summer camp'. Well, Massachusetts. 

John Sexton at Hat Hair recounts how the ACLU Ordered to Reinstate Worker Accused of Using 'Dangerous' Language "The A.C.L.U. acknowledges that Ms. Oh, who is Korean American, never used any kind of racial slur. But the group says that her use of certain phrases and words demonstrated a pattern of willful anti-Black animus. In one instance, according to court documents, she told a Black superior that she was “afraid” to talk with him. In another, she told a manager that their conversation was “chastising.” And in a meeting, she repeated a satirical phrase likening her bosses’ behavior to suffering “beatings.”" Really keeping to their core function of protecting civil liberties, huh. OTP, ESPN Star Deletes ‘Protect Our Daughters’ Post That Doesn’t ‘Represent’ Company

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: No Relief In September up and pining for attention at The Other McCain. 

Rule 5 Saturday - Rachel Whitlock

This week's Rule 5 winner is Rachel Whitlock,@rayraywhit

I am a recent graduate of the MUMA School of Business at the University of South Florida. As an extremely outgoing, passionate, driven, and creative person, I knew from the start that I would thrive in marketing and sales. The part of graduation I look forward to the most is being able to put my all into a company I am passionate about.

My expertise is in digital marketing, social media management, building successful customer relationships, and content creation which is essential in telling the story of a brand while attracting and engaging customers. I believe in kindness and treating all people with respect, enjoy forming and nurturing authentic customer relationships, and establishing meaningful connections with customers.

Side hobbies include weightlifting (being the strongest version of myself is very fulfilling to me), spending time in nature with my canine best friends, and enjoying the beautiful beaches I've grown up around my entire life. Always trying to be a better human, spread positivity, and learn new things everyday.

 The Wombat makes up time with Rule 5 Sunday: Hangar Queen Double-Scoop Sunday!  Linked at The Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama.

Feel Good Story of the Day

WEARTV, Escambia County K9 Streeter recovering well after jump from bridge during suspect pursuit

Escambia County K9 Streeter was treated at the hospital and is recovering Tuesday after sustaining minor injuries in his jump from a bridge Monday evening.

Streeter jumped from the Highway 90 bridge at Scenic Highway in pursuit of shooting suspects who also jumped off the bridge. He landed in water following the 30-40 foot fall and was recovered by deputies.

"He stayed overnight at Davis Animal Hospital Emergency Center, and was released this morning after his evaluation at Westside Animal Hospital," the sheriff's office said in a post Tuesday morning. "He is in good spirits, and will be on light 'desk duty' until the end of the week....oh and of course he is enjoying those extra treats

Feel Good Story of the Day

Rocky

From the Soundings, Missing Dog Found After Boating Accident

After a boating accident in the Ashley River in Charleston, South Carolina, a golden retriever has been reunited with his family. Jeff Wiseman and his pup, Rocky, a one-and-a-half-year-old golden retriever, were out for a ride when Jeff became distracted by his phone, causing him to hit an old abandoned dock. The impact sent both Rocky and Jeff into the water.

Texting and driving, Am I right? 

The accident happened about a half mile south of Dolphin Cove Marina. Jeff swam to shore to look for Rocky, but couldn’t find him. Local authorities arrived to assist Jeff and helped look for Rocky, but he was still nowhere to be found. Jeff was then taken to the hospital with seven broken ribs.

“My fear was that he was hurt or injured, you know that he was suffering somewhere or dead,” Jeff said. “I mean, the grief and guilt you feel when a moment of your carelessness might have hurt or killed you and your buddy like that.”

Jeff’s wife, Kim, posted to Facebook asking boaters to keep an eye out for Rocky. The Lowcountry community rallied, with many people going out to look for Rocky along the river on jet skis, kayaks and boats.

On Tuesday morning, thirty-six hours after Rocky went missing, he was spotted on the opposite side of the Ashley River chasing a raccoon. He was wearing his dog lifejacket, which the Wisemans believed saved his life.

I doubt a Golder Retriever actually needed a life jacket to swim to the shore. I suspect an unexpected swim and a chance to chase Racoons was like being in heaven. 

Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. 

Flotsam and Jetsam - Biden To Speak Less for Fear of Gaffs

Matt Vespa at TownHall reports Biden's Advisers Push to Doing Something We All Knew Was Coming. At PJM, Matt Margolis thinks Biden’s Cognitive Decline Is Getting Worse, and His Campaign’s New Strategy Proves It, shorter speeches, less chance to f*ck up. There's a lot to be said for his saying less. Also from Matt, WATCH: Joe Biden Glitches During Medal of Freedom Ceremony. Spitfire @DogRightGirl "Did he just sh*t his pants?!". Sure looks like it. If he were 2, I'd say so. 

From Breitbart, an Analysis: Joe Biden’s ‘Blue Wall’ Crumbles Under Weight of Donald Trump’s Comeback. "For the first time in 2024, Trump held a narrow lead in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, Tuesday’s Emerson poll showed." Hat Hair's KT cites a Survey: Texas Hispanics Support Abbott's Border Crackdown, Jumping on the Trump Train. Matt Margolis again, Joe Biden Really Insults Women Voters, but will they notice? Josh Hammer at Am Great, thinks Joe Biden, Dearborn Shahid, Commits Political Suicide via Hamas Appeasement. Anxious anxiously claims a Scoop: U.S. put a hold on an ammunition shipment to Israel. All for Michigan's electoral votes. Insty has a Flashback to CNBC in January of 2020: Trump administration broke law in withholding Ukraine aid, watchdog says as Senate prepares for impeachment trial.

Ryan King at NYPo, Top House Intel Dem defends ‘very strong vetting process’ as Biden admin considers admitting Gazan refugees to US. At Front Page, Dan Greenfield says Biden to Trade Nukes to Terrorists for Election Day Bribes "An impeachable quid-pro-quo that could kill millions of Americans," How Hamas Bought Joe Biden "Bloodstained currency, smuggled gold bars and a $200,000 check," and Bob Spencer sees Biden Regime Investigates Columbia’s Treatment of PALESTINIAN Students "Yet it’s Jewish students who are being attacked. Breitbart notices Pro-Hamas Protests Funded by Biden’s Own Political Donors, I'm sure he, or at least his minders, do too. Politico, Pro-Palestinian protesters are backed by a surprising source: Biden’s biggest donors "Some of the most outspoken groups against Biden and Israel get funding from foundations attached to some of the biggest names in Democratic circles." Hat Hair, Sorry, NO Surprise But Politico Doing Clean-Up on Protester Funding Sources Anyway.

Breitbart runs the numbers and discovers Joe Biden’s Border Policy Kills Hundreds of Illegal Workers. Misty Stewart at JTN reports DOJ warns Iowa that it would be sued if it enforces new immigration law. "If arrested and convicted under the new law, a judge can have the individual deported back to their home country. But if the person is not deported, they could be sentenced to two years in prison if its classified as a misdemeanor, or up to 10 years if its a felony and they have been arrested before." At Am Think, Ian Smith thinks about The Truth About Operation Wetback. Ivan Eland at Am Con sees A Missed Off-Ramp for U.S. Venezuela Policy, "American sanctions keep backfiring, so why do we keep using them?"

Atop Da Hill, a Poll, More Americans trust Trump on economy, inflation than Biden. Charlotte Hazzard at JTN, Bidenomics tips more stressed U.S. banks into danger zone as economy slows. "According to recent reports, hundreds of banks face the potential of failing just like Republic First Bancorp." From WaEx, Judge Jeanine mocks unemployable student loan forgiveness recipients for ‘being stupid’ Hat Hair, Unemployable 'Art Institutes' Grads Got Loan Bailouts, Probably Mad Judge Jeanine Called Them Stupid. Hat Hair's Beege Welborn says "Holy crap. You know, I caught part of the segment the other night on Watters about us paying off the loans for an OnlyFans loser, but I did not realize that's THE LOANS we forked over tax dollars for. Gol-lee Nell." Becca Downs at Town Hall, Is Joe Biden Really Bragging About Going Against Supreme Court on Student Debt? Yes, it plays well with his base. At ET, Biden Energy Department Finalizes Rules on Water Heaters "Critics have said the federal administration’s energy initiatives are ‘diminishing competition and profoundly affecting consumer choice.’" At Breitbart, Japanese Corp Says DOJ Requested a Delay on Purchase of U.S. Steel, Insists It Has Nothing to Do with 2024 Election, which means it has to do with the election.

From TNP, Trump Advisor Explains How THESE 2 States Could Flip Red in November, Minnesota and Virginia. Althouse, "At Washington dinner parties, dark jokes abound about where to go into exile if the former president reclaims the White House." That's the subheadline of a NYT piece by Peter Baker, "Gallows Humor and Talk of Escape: Trump’s Possible Return Rattles Capital." Too good to actually happen. From Da Wire, Cotton Defends Trump’s Claims About 2020 Presidential Election “Jon, he says, and I agree, that the election was not fair, and it was rigged in many ways with Democratic states and cities changing election law and election practices up to the last minute, with the media, to include your network, and 51 Democratic intelligence operatives saying the Hunter Biden laptop was Russian disinformation and social media then censoring all those things,” he added. “Those were all deeply unfair.” At Da Fed, Shawn Fleetwood has 10 Lies Democrats Tell About Our Elections (And How To Refute Them). At Am Think JB Shurk thinks about America’s Jenga Tower of Power. "A majority of Americans believe that mail-in ballot fraud tainted the 2020 election, but most state and federal officials continue to pretend the results were aboveboard." From the Pipeline, Michael Walsh says On Abortion, Take the Win and Move On. 

At Breitbart, Noem Defends Killing Dog, Suggests Biden’s Dog Should Be Shot. When in a hole, stop digging.

Vicky Taft at PJM says We're Now in Full Goat Rodeo Mode in the NYC Trump Trial. Mary Lou Masters at Da Caller, Democrats Thought Bragg Trial Would Sink Trump’s 2024 Campaign. Polling So Far Suggests Otherwise. John Cleer at Am Think thinks NY is Prosecuting Trump for Being Extorted. Pete Toungette at Am Con recalls Another Trial in New York. "The current proceedings in a Manhattan courthouse aren’t the first time the interests have tried to lay low a wealthy populist icon." Martha Stewart. Greg Salsbury at Am Think worries Has Leftist Lawfare Created the Police State Yet? Yes. TNP catches up, Jack Smith Admits Evidence Tampering in Mar-a-Lago ‘Documents’ Case. “Prosecutors and investigators should never tamper with or alter evidence in their possession, including the order of documents in a box because one never knows what may become relevant or crucial to a court or jury later in a case,” Harvard Law Professor Emeritus Alan Dershowitz told Just The News."

Andrea Widburg at Am Think, On January 6, did America’s highest-level military officers willfully disobey their Commander in Chief? Insurrection Barbie @DefiyantlyFree, "Whistleblowers confirm that military leaders plotted to break the chain of command and disobey the commander in chief of the United States of America. I am not being hyperbolic when I say there needs to be military tribunals. Either we are a nation of laws or we are a nation of outlaws but the whistleblower testimony (linked below) is mindblowing. . . . " From OTP, Ex-J6 Cop, Man Convicted In Riot, Each Running For House Seat, Could Serve In Same Congress. That would be amusing.

At PM, ANDY NGO REPORTS: San Diego jury convicts two So Cal Antifa members of felony conspiracy to riot with co-conspirators. "Following a month-long trial, jurors in San Diego have convicted two So Cal Antifa members of engaging in a violent felony conspiracy to riot in their beach community. This brings convictions to all 12 members who were charged."

At Da Caller, Sen. Tom Cotton Calls Out ABC Host For Attempting To ‘Move On’ From Discussing College Protests.

James B. Meigs take on Unscientific American "Science journalism surrenders to progressive ideology." We dropped our subscription to Sci-Am years ago, when the hand writing was on the wall. 

Fox News reports a Transgender track runner wins 2 women's events in which race times would've been last place among men "Sadie Schreiner also clinched victory in 4x400 relay as anchor leg." 

From Florida's Voice, Florida schools linked to ADL program teaching gender identity, activism, social justice, more. At UnHerd, MIT becomes first elite university to ban diversity statements. Steve Greenhut at Reason believes 'Equity' Grading Is the Latest Educational Fad Destined To Fail, but not before doing plenty of damage to students. 

And yet again, there's so much on the pro-Hamas protests on the colleges, I'm just going to stuff them all below the line: